NEW ORLEANS — A 36-year-old Emergency Medical Technician driving an ambulance was killed in a crash on I-10 near Highway 1090 in St. Tammany around 1 a.m. Sunday, according to State Police.
Police said John Crow of Pascagoula was traveling along with two others in an Acadian Ambulance. Police said the vehicle was traveling westbound when, for unknown reasons, it ran into the back of a 2020 Volvo Box Truck.
Police said Crow was wearing a belt but sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. Two passengers in the ambulance suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital. The driver of the Volvo had no injuries.
Crow was training to be a paramedic, according to a friend.
“Any loss of life like this is tragic, but for a first responder to die while performing his duties is particularly sad,” Coroner Charles Preston said. “Our entire staff offers condolences to Mr. Crow’s family and coworkers, who surely feel this loss most acutely.”
Acadian Ambulance said it is cooperating with State Police and other units investigating the crash.
According to police, impairment is not suspected, but they are concerned that dense fog that formed early Sunday could have added to dangerous conditions that they say caused 16 separate vehicles to be involved in crashes along I-10 in Slidell late Saturday night and early Sunday.